Bits To Read

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

New Pitchfork column about the "test of time" - big debts to Dubdobdee and Koganbot and a big uncredited debt to epicharmus who is the LIVING CONSCIENCE OF DAVE MARSH and has kept the quote that starts the column alive. I'm glad I remembered it as it gave me a framing device that much improved the piece, which even so isn't one of my favourites.

Meanwhile, earlier this week on Poptimists we talked about the return of UPBEAT POP and the Grauniad today includes not one but TWO bits about this - Jude Rogers' column about whimsical bands (mentions the accursed WOMBATS who I had somehow forgotten), and this intriguing piece on Radio 1 ditching rock for pop. Caroline Sullivan (for it is she) obviously disapproves. You probably will too given that by pop they mean Scouting For Girls. (Not that I'm denying that's what SFG are). Readers may remember that SCIENCE predicted the pop revival some months ago and now here it is.

Comments

[mcarratala.livejournal.com]

The other thing about the "test of time" is that it is based on a poor understanding of history – ie a failure to understand the debate is never-ending. Which is to say: Caravaggio was the buzz artist around Rome 400 years, Caravaggio is the subject of a big BBC documentary once every five years. False deduction: over the stretch of four centuries, Caravaggio has been considered one of the very greatest of artists. In fact, for huge chunks of that time he didn't make the cut at all. Even with Shakespeare, the supposed gold standard for this kind of stuff, you'll find that critical consensus about which of the plays justify his reputation changes constantly. 'History' has no one judgement (or I guess not unless we actually reach Judgement Day).